Tow bars?

[Tumness]

Wondered if anybody could recommend a tow bar for the Exeo. Preferably a detachable. Roughly how much did it cost and where you got it please?
All advice greatly appreciated.

 

[andyj]

Depends if you want to DIY the fitting, or get it done for you?

I've got the Westfalia swan-neck (non-detachable), cost me about £150 for the bar and electrics from a place on ebay (just trying to find out the company's name).

Westfalia do mke a detachable one to.

Just buy one that's suitable for a Audi A4 (B7) saloon/avant whichever Exeo you've got.

With regards the electrics, you can either buy a 'proper' loom that has to be routed through the car and connected to the existing wiring loom behind the dash, or you can get the 'by-pass relay' set-up that just connects to the existing wiring in the boot.

 

[geeforty]

As Andy as recommended, buy a westfalia one, but order the exeo one not the B7 as the brackets for the lower spoiler car in the right place then (and it was cheaper)

Used the proper Audi loom for a late B7 fitted perfectly - coded it OK so park sensors disabled etc

 

[andyj]

As Andy as recommended, buy a westfalia one, but order the exeo one not the B7 as the brackets for the lower spoiler car in the right place then (and it was cheaper)

Used the proper Audi loom for a late B7 fitted perfectly - coded it OK so park sensors disabled etc

so thats why my didn't fit properly.... dooh!

 

[Jayt]

see for the electrics using the bypass, is it just a case of scotch clipping in the cars tails lights like the old fashioned way but they run through the magic box before going to the plug, got quoted 255 today for one fitted buy if thats all it is i will do it myself.

 

[geeforty]

Hi,

I guess the bypass relay would be a chop the wires / scotchlok job.

I used the kit - 8E5055203GA - its listed for the A4 but fitted perfectly, links up to the canbus, so the bulb failure detection works on the trailer too, disabled the park sensors and switches the fog lights around, and apparently changes the ESP to cope with towing when the trailer is plugged in.
you need VCDS to program the various modules in the car to become towbar aware.

Nigel.

 

[geeforty]

Bar I bought was
344054 Westfalia Detachable Towbar Kit Fits Seat Exeo 2009 On

Its pretty close to the official seat dealer one, but that has a red X handle to release - the westfalia is just a black knob with flats on it.

The official one may be brink?

 

[Wildie]

Right just had a Westfalia towbar fitted with a dedicated loom they failed to sort out the rev sensors they could not access the code for it to change it rest is done, but not the sensors, any ideas why? they even had the software makers try it remotely but they failed too. so we now got a towbar with the dedicated loom and bloody rev sensors locked on..
any ideas whats the deal with it.

 

[geeforty]

What were they using to do the coding - I found VCDS talked OK to all the modules, you need to enable the trailer bit in the engine ecu, dash, parking sensors

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Trailer_Hitch_Retrofitting_(8E)

What modules are you using - mine was the proper audi / seat module.

 

[Wildie]

What were they using to do the coding - I found VCDS talked OK to all the modules, you need to enable the trailer bit in the engine ecu, dash, parking sensors

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Trailer_Hitch_Retrofitting_(8E)

What modules are you using - mine was the proper audi / seat module.

I belieave its Westfalia they using after we paid a shed load of dosh out for this towbar and fitting and its not right.

 

[Wildie]

another failed a temp not looking good this for them and they want to have the car for another day leaving us without one again no way I think it`s time to get some money back and get seat to do it.

 

[Larfinboy]

I had a Witter fitted by an "approved" fitting centre - and they could not get it to work properly.

Took it to SEAT Cambridge - they couldnt sort it.

SEAT MK sorted it in the end but took a good master tech and a parts manager who was prepared for a challenge. From memory took two bits - the wiring loom and a "kit" - then everything programming up correctly.

good luck - hope you get it sorted

 

[Wildie]

they given up on the hardware side and they going to used the vcds software instead its costing them time and time is money every time using the gear they got, see how it goes if it fails again I be thinking and them we got a faulty car.

 

[Wildie]

any one got the codes just incase they don`t have old or new ones

 

[M7R]

what ever you do dont let them use a can bus by pass kit... they arent the correct way to do it on a smart car... it know when a trailers attached and alters traction control and abs setttings plus turns off the reverse sensors, and the fog light only comes on on the trailer.. with a by pass in there the car never kow if its towing or not.. and I have been told from within the industry that insurance companies dont like that idea!

 

[Derbian]

Just fitted a Witter detachable flange towbar on my late 2012 ST and it fits perfectly. Looks OK and it gives you the option of taking the complete flange assembly and towball off the car if you want to.

Be carefull if you try a fixed flange model intended for a B7 Audi as I tried this first. Towbar itself fits but the centre strut isn't long enough and the towball mounting plate fouls the rear bumper with no room to fit the bolts. Manufacturer can't/won't help as it's not Type Approved for the Exeo.

 

[taffybloke]

Just bought a used westfalia towbar and dedicated wiring kit does any one know the codes needed I have vcds but the rosstech site has no detailes.

Mike

 

[Derbian]

Tow Electrics Coding

Hi

Had a local auto electrician to do the installation of the 12n socket and coding as I don't know enough about Canbus systems (yet).

However the kit came from an outfit called "Right Connections" and you can download a set of instructions from their site (www.rightconnections.co.uk) and there is some information about the recoding on the back page.

Hope that helps

 

[M7R]

Right connections is the right way to go... Can bus by pass is the work of the devil on cars which have safety features!